Interview with Nobuaki Miyashita of MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.

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Nobuaki Miyashita

Nobuaki Miyashita, the CEO of MR STUDIO Co., Ltd, has been engaged in architectural design for about 30 years in Japan. In 2017, he established MR STUDIO, a company that focuses on design supervision, with a particular emphasis on innovative concept creation and design development.

1Please give us a brief bio of yourself, your background, and your job profile.
I have been involved in architectural design for about 30 years in Japan. In 2017, I established a company called MR STUDIO, focusing on design supervision, especially innovative concept making and design development.
2What is your role in the company?
As the CEO of the company, I also serve as the lead architect at a premier architectural firm.
3Please tell us more about your company / organization.
We design a wide variety of building types including residential, office, hotel, commercial, educational, cultural facilities, and factories, as well as small-scale interiors to large-scale urban developments.
4Congratulations! As the winner of the 2024 TITAN Property Awards, what does it mean for you, your team, and your organization, to receive this distinction?
It is a great honor to have received the Platinum Award, the highest prize at the TITAN Property Awards. Being recognized for our design activities and quality of design is a significant force in advancing our next projects.
5Could you briefly explain about the winning project / title you entered into the 2024 TITAN Property Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
The award was for a project titled "Hotel Marina Gold," a large-scale resort hotel in Vietnam. The innovative design, inspired by luxury cruise ships and spacecraft, was a perfect fit for the philosophy of the TITAN Property Awards.
6What were the biggest challenges you faced with this project?
The biggest challenge was how to structurally support the bold design that rises diagonally. The balance between design and cost was also crucial.
7How has winning this award developed your practice / career?
Designing outside of Japan and having our design activities known worldwide, I hope, will enable us to undertake projects on a more global scale!
8For Property Developer, Architect and Designer, what makes a “good” property design?
I believe that having a geometrically beautiful building in shape that feels cool and sophisticated at first glance is important. No matter how wonderful the functionality or materials are, an impressive and beautiful form is essential, and it enhances not just the value of the real estate itself but rather the value of the surrounding area as a whole.
9Describe your property design style and its main characteristics.
I aim to design spaces, architecture, and landscapes that offer distinctive added value through concept making that expresses the potential needs and identity of a project and through innovative design.
10What made you / Why did you choose to become an artist / designer / real estate agent / property developer?
The reason I wanted to become an architect was to design large-scale buildings that define the culture and landscape of a city.
11What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
I like architecture with iconic and innovative shapes that are unforgettable at first glance. I prefer designs based on geometric, mathematical, physical, and scientific principles. My goal is for the architectural design to lead and highlight the beauty of the city.
12What led you / your organization to become successful within the industry you are currently in?
I believe in bringing out the latent values not just focusing on the explicit needs of clients and vividly expressing them through architectural design.
13What makes your country specifically unique in the design industry?
What makes Japan stand out in the design world is its meticulous attention to detail and precision. Whether it's architecture, graphic design, or fashion, there's a level of craftsmanship and dedication to quality that's unparalleled, reflecting our deep respect for the process and the materials used.
14Do you think your country and its cultural heritage had an impact on your design process?

Absolutely, Japan's culture and heritage influences my designs heavily. The hotel's horizontal stripes and elegance reflect the Japanese emphasis on harmony and simplicity, inspired by our traditional architecture and gardens.

These elements symbolize stability and tranquility, blending traditional Japanese minimalism with modern needs. It's a celebration of our cultural legacy through contemporary design.

15How has the country, you are based in, helped move your industry forward?
Japan has advanced the real estate and architectural design industry by blending innovative technology with traditional design principles. Our commitment to sustainability, earthquake-resistant techniques, and space-efficient designs has set new global benchmarks, influencing how buildings are constructed worldwide. This fusion of the old and the new ensures that our work is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and resilient.
16For Real Estate Agent, what does “real estate” mean to you?

For a real estate agent, 'real estate' means more than just property or land; it signifies the foundation for people's dreams and futures. It's about creating spaces where memories are made, businesses flourish, and communities grow.

Our role is to bridge aspirations with reality, ensuring every transaction not only meets but exceeds expectations, making every square foot count towards building a better life.

17What are your top THREE (3) favorite things about the real estate industry?
There are three trends I see: competing in the height of super-tall buildings, competing in sculptural, iconic designs, and designing in harmony with the environment, incorporating wood structures and greenery.
18Where do you see the evolution of the real estate industry in the next 5-10 years?
I believe that the implementation of wooden super-tall buildings will evolve in earnest. Also, the use of AI in design is expected to become widespread, providing optimal solutions not only for site characteristics and regulatory compliance but also for cultural and historical contexts.
19What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the real estate industry?
Conversely, I think it is essential to get inspiration from industries other than real estate. It's important to carefully analyze what value changes are occurring in the fashion industry, what's happening in the culinary world, music, movies, etc.
20Who has inspired you in your life, and why?
The biggest influence on me has been my uncle, who is an architect. Since I was a child, he taught me that design is all about the concept and pursuing designs that can only be realized there.
21What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
My motto is to remind myself that the best moment to take action is when I feel "I was too late," and to always work with a positive attitude.
22Do you have anything else, which we haven’t covered, that you would like to include in this interview?
In this TITAN Property Awards, we also won two other prizes: the Gold Award for "Aida Sekkei Precut Division Ibaraki Factory" and the Silver Award for "NANEI NISHIKI Building." I would like to thank our clients for giving us the opportunity to design these wonderful projects.

Winning Entries

Hotel Marina Gold
| 2024

Hotel Marina Gold | Nobuaki Miyashita and MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.
The site faces Mui Ne Beach which is located in the southeast of Vietnam. Mui Ne …
(read more at TITAN Property Awards)

Aida Sekkei Precut Division Ibaraki Factory | 2024

Aida Sekkei Precut Division Ibaraki Factory | MR Studio Co Ltd
Aida sekkei Co., Ltd., a frontrunner in traditional Japanese timber construction …
(read more at TITAN Property Awards)

URAWA GARDEN BLDG | 2024

URAWA GARDEN BLDG. | Nobuaki Miyashita and Jones Lang LaSalle K.K. + MR STUDIO Co., Ltd. + OBAYASHI CORPORATION
The Urawa Garden Building is designated as the headquarters for a comprehensive leisure and …
(read more at TITAN Property Awards)

Nobuaki Miyashita

Nobuaki Miyashita, the CEO of MR STUDIO Co., Ltd, has been engaged in architectural design for about 30 years in Japan. In 2017, he established MR STUDIO, a company that focuses on design supervision, with a particular emphasis on innovative concept creation and design development.


The 2024 TITAN Property Awards elated to announce its victorious Category Winners in the art of bespoke in the first season!

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